Updated at: 25-08-2022 - By: Sienna Lewis

Plants with woody stems, such as some roses, can also be successfully propagated by rooted stem cuttings of their green stems. Instead of hybrid shrubs, it is preferable to root “wild” or “native,” pure stem cuttings of roses and other woody plants. This is due to the fact that many hybrids are produced by grafting branches from attractive but delicate species onto rootstock from a more robust species. Grafting can produce a stunning plant with exceptionally strong roots. As a result of this, cuttings from a parent plant will not produce a new plant with the same level of root hardiness as the original.

As a result, it is ideal to produce non-grafted roses, such as many so-called shrub roses, using stem cuttings.

With woody plants, the stem clipping approach can be hard, and you can expect 25 to 50 percent of your attempts to fail. To ensure that you have at least a few viable options, take a few more cuts. It’s still possible to grow fresh roses from cuttings taken from healthy plants if you follow the necessary measures to root them.

What Is a Shrub Rose?

American Rose Society (ARS) defines “shrub roses” as “a class of hardy, easy-care plants that encompass bushy roses that do not fit in any other category of rose bush.” There are a number of other hybrid varieties of rose that fall under the ARS’s definition of shrub rose, including Moyesi and hybrid musk hybrid roses, as well as English roses, Knock Out roses, and hybrid musk roses. Shrub roses include all of the many native species of rose. Any of these hybrid roses classified as “own-root” rather than “grafted” can be successfully propagated from stem cuttings.

3 Ways to Propagate Roses - wikiHow

When to Propagate a Rose by Stem Cuttings

Cuttings obtained from recently flowered fresh growth (as opposed to older, hardened wood) are more likely to root effectively than those taken at any other period. Softwood stem cuttings are best taken in the spring or fall, when the plant is fully hydrated, in the early morning hours. Also, do not cut your plant when it is in full flower. Because the plant is concentrating its resources on flower production rather than root formation, cuttings are less likely to take root at this time.

Before Getting Started

Rose cuts necessitate the use of sharp pruners. When using dull instruments, the woody stems of the rose can be crushed instead of being cut cleanly, making the cutting vulnerable to fungal rot. To avoid the spread of disease, always clean your pruners before and after each cutting.

When propagating roses from cuttings, use patience. In spite of the fact that it may take a long time until you see the first blooms of your new rose, you’ll love them more if they were grown by yourself.

Click Play to Learn How to Grow Roses From Cuttings

What You’ll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Shears for pruning trees

Materials

  • Cuttings from a mature rose plant
  • Rooting hormone in powder form
  • A potted plant
  • Rose potting soil or sand and vermiculite

Wrapped in plastic or a plastic bag

Instructions

 

Take Cuttings

Take a 12-inch section of a newly-blooming stem and cut it at a 45-degree angle from the plant. Stems should be around the width of a pencil. In most cases, cuttings that are most likely to succeed in roots can be found on the bush’s outside edges rather than its core.

You want to urge the stem to redirect its survival energy into sending out new roots, so clip the branch and remove any flowers or flower buds from the cut branch. Make sure that you preserve your multiple cuttings in a water container until you are ready to multiply them.

Remove Most Leaves

Only the two pairs of leaves at the very top of the stem should be left. Just above this top group of leaves, cut off the remaining stem. The cutting’s energy can be better allocated to root formation if the superfluous leaves are removed.

How to Propagate Roses from Cuttings | Gardener's Path

Prepare the Stem for Rooting

Make a clean cut immediately below a stem node at the bottom of the stem with sharp pruning shears (a bump where new growth typically forms). Then, cut approximately a quarter of an inch up from the bottom of the stem, slicing the stem into quarters.

Apply Rooting Hormone

Rooting hormones aren’t required, but they can help your rose plant grow new roots. There are rooting hormones that can be found in powder, liquid and gel forms, but the powder form is better for roses. Rooting hormone can be applied by moistening the split end of the rose cutting and then dipping it into the powdered form. Remove any extraneous debris by shaking it off.

Plant the Cutting

Put at least 6 inches of rose-specific potting mix in the bottom of a small pot. Make a small hole in the potting material and insert the stem, sliced-side down, being careful not to rub off the rooting hormone during the process.. Water thoroughly after gently packing the dirt around the stem.

Cover the Cutting

To help keep the soil moist, place the cutting in a plastic bag or wrap it in plastic wrap. To avoid fungal illness, keep the plastic away from any surviving leaves on the stem, since this can cause them to remain damp and vulnerable. Put a stake in the pot that is taller than the pot itself to keep the plastic away from the plant’s foliage. If you seal the bag too firmly, the stem can decay. If you’re using grow lights, it’s best to place the cutting near a window with enough of natural light.

Monitor the Cutting

It normally takes approximately two weeks for a plant to begin rooting, so keep the soil moist. The easiest way to determine if roots are present is to gently tug on the stem.

Once the roots have taken hold and fresh leaf sprouts grow along the stem, you can transplant your cutting into a pot or the ground. Hardening off the fresh rose is essential before planting outside.

Steps Involved in Propagating Roses

Clippings are the greatest approach to propagate roses. A new set of roses might be yours in just a matter of weeks if you follow these instructions correctly. In the spring, about six weeks after the leaves begin to grow on your roses, you should take some clippings.

In order to successfully propagate your roses, the following steps should be followed:

Step #1: Cut the Rose Clippings

Rose cuttings are the initial stage in propagating your roses. It’s simple to trim the stems of your roses. Make sure to measure at least 8 inches of the branch before cutting it with a sharp knife at a 45-degree angle to ensure that the branch may absorb as much water as possible when it is planted.

Cut off the top of the rose, including the flower, then remove all but two leaves when you have your clippings. It will be easier for the plant to take in the nutrients if the bark of the first three inches of the branch is removed. Set the rose clipping aside and keep it from drying out once you’re done.

Step #2: Prep the Soil

Your new plant needs all the nutrients it can receive because you’re attempting to get it established in a new environment. If you’re intending to propagate your roses, be sure the soil is rich in nutrients and suitable for their growth. Break up any clumps of dirt by watering and tilling it thoroughly.

Compost is a great way to enrich your soil. Compost adds helpful bacteria to the soil, which in turn helps your roses thrive. Take a rose clipping and place two-thirds of the stem into the dirt. Allow it to develop there until it establishes roots before moving on to the next step.

A rooting hormone that you can get from a flower nursery will also help the snip root quickly.

Step #3: Transplant Your Rose Clipping

Next, you’ll need to transplant your roses into their permanent location. Ensure that you remove all of the plant’s root system before transplanting it. Soil or compost can be used to fill in the hole around the root ball.

The soil you use to transplant the rose clippings should be no less rich in nutrients than the soil you used to establish their roots. So that it can grow and multiply successfully, the plant will receive the proper nutrition.

Additional Tips in Propagating Roses

In order to ensure a successful growth of your roses, adequate propagation is necessary. Making certain it survives is also a requirement. Even while these roses can take care of themselves, you may ensure that they produce stunning blooms by going out of your way to give them extra attention.

As a starting point, here are some suggestions:

A lot of direct sunlight is essential for the health of your rose. It’s recommended that you give this plant between 6 and 8 hours of direct sunlight each day.

Soils with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5 are ideal for roses.

Spray fungicide on your rose shrub right away if it has black patches to prevent the fungus from spreading.

It’s a good idea to protect your roses during the winter months. It is possible to shield your rosebush from the snow by placing a box on top of it, or you may clear away any snow that has accumulated on your roses to avoid hurting them by the weight of the ice.

Feed your roses with a high-quality organic or chemical rose food to provide the flowers with additional nutrients to make sure that it thrives after transplanting.

How to Propagate Roses from Cuttings | Gardener's Path

Can I Propagate Roses in a Greenhouse?

Make careful to feed your roses with a high-quality organic or chemical rose food to ensure that they flourish following transplantation.

There are numerous advantages to having a greenhouse in the landscape. When it comes to controlling the temperature and other environmental elements, they can do so. As a bonus, your greenhouse protects the plants from disease and pests.

Learn How to Propagate Roses Successfully

If you want to grow roses, you don’t have to be an expert gardener. Only one thing you need to keep in mind is that timing is everything. In order to ensure that your propagation is successful and you can enjoy stunning flowers, there are a few care suggestions you can follow.